AMC Rebel

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AMC Rebel
1968 AMC Rebel 770 station wagon
ManufacturerAmerican Motors Corporation
Also calledRambler Rebel
Production1967 – 1970
AssemblyFlag of the United States Kenosha, Wisconsin
Flag of Canada Brampton, Ontario
Flag of Australia Port Melbourne
Flag of Belgium Haren
Flag of Mexico Mexico City
PredecessorRambler Classic
SuccessorAMC Matador
ClassMid-size
Body style(s)2-door convertible
2-door coupe
2-door hardtop
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
LayoutFR layout
PlatformAMC’s “senior cars”
RelatedAMC Ambassador
ManualsService Manual

The AMC Rebel (known as the Rambler Rebel in 1967) is a mid-size car produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1967 to 1970. It replaced the Rambler Classic. The Rebel was replaced by the similar AMC Matador for the 1971 model year.

The Rebel was assembled from Complete knock down (CKD) kits under license in Europe (by Renault), in Mexico (by Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos), and in Australia (by Australian Motor Industries). Rebels continued to be sold in these and other markets under the "Rambler" brandname.

History

The Rebel name was introduced by AMC in 1957 as a special model with a big V8 engine: the Rambler Rebel, the first American factory muscle car. The Rebel name reappeared in 1966 on a specially trimmed version of the Rambler Classic two-door hardtop with a revised roofline. For 1967, AMC's entire intermediate line took the Rebel name.

Throughout its production, the Rebel was available as a 4-door sedan, 4-door station wagon, and 2-door hardtop. In addition, a 2-door sedan (coupé) with a thin B-pillar and flip out rear side windows was available in 1967 only, and a convertible was offered in 1967 and 1968. Engines included the 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 (145/155 hp), 290 cu in (4.8 L) (200/225 hp), 343 cu in (5.6 L) (235/280 hp) and 390 cu in (6.4 L) (315/325 hp) V8s. Styling was similar to the senior Ambassador, which shared the same basic unit body aft of the cowl. In 1970, the sedan and coupe received a restyled rear-end, along with a new C-pillar shape and rear quarters. The Rebel was built at AMC's "West Assembly Line" (along with the Ambassador) in Kenosha, Wisconsin and at Brampton, Ontario, Canada (Bramalea).

The 1970 restyle was to last only one year before a further restyle and renaming the models as the AMC Matador. The 4-door and wagon platform would remain unchanged until the retirement of the Matador line after the 1978 model year.

Regional wagons

Rambler Rebel "Mariner" wagon

During the 1967 model year, AMC issued a series of specialty Rebel station wagons with luxury equipment.[1] They were limited for sale to geographical areas. Standard equipment included 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 engine (the 343 cu in (5.6 L) was optional), automatic transmission, power steering, power drum brakes, and special duty springs and shock absorbers.[2] Each featured a distinctive interior and exterior trim:

  • The Mariner (600 units) in Barbados blue with panels trim of simulated bleached teakwood planking accented by narrow black horizontal stripes and a "nautical anchor" medallion. The interior featured anchors and stars decorating dark blue suede bolster panels of the seats, which also had white piping and broad horizontal pleated inserts of medium blue antelope grain vinyl. The Mariner was sold along the coastal regions of the United States.[1]
  • The Briarwood (400 units) in Matador Red with simulated black camera grain side panels and "regal" medallions, as well as its own black "antelope grain" vinyl interior. The Briarwood was marketed in major markets in the east and south.[1]
  • The Westerner (500 units) in Frost White with plankwood trim side inserts and a "Pony Express" medallion. The interior featured stallion brown vinyl that simulated "richly tooled" leather on the seats and door panels in combination with white antelope grained vinyl. The Westerner was available west of the Mississippi River.[1]

Each version included the color-coordinated upholstery and door panels, individually-adjustable reclining seats, sports steering wheel, as well as the 91 cubic feet (Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". m³) of carpeted cargo room, a locking hidden compartment, and a rooftop luggage rack. Special regional nameplates were on the rear fender in addition to the unique medallions on the C-pillar.[2]

Regional Raider

In 1969, a Rebel Raider two-door hardtop was sold only in New York and New Jersey. The marketing of these cars was timed to coincide with the New York City Auto Show. Three hundred Raiders were built and many were part of a “driveaway” by area dealers on the eve of the Auto Show.[3] All Raiders came with a V8 engine with automatic transmission, as well as “blow-your mind colors to choose from: electric green, tangerine, and blue-you’ve never seen.”[4] AMC tried out its “Big Bad” colors first this regional dealer special.[5] The hues were introduced at mid-year on the Javelin and AMX models.[6] Other standard features included black upholstery and carpeting, black front grill, black vinyl roof, a sports-type steering wheel, AM radio, power steering, and power brakes. The total price of the special Raider models was advertised at US$2,699.

Rebel funny cars

1967 AMC ad for the Rebel shows how AMC marketing attempted to produce ads designed to change the perception that AMC only made economy cars

In 1964, following record sales and Rambler’s third place position in U.S. sales, AMC declared that the only race the company was interested in was the human race. However, with AMC’s precarious financial condition in 1966 following the race to match its "Big Three" domestic competitors under Roy Abernethy, the new management reversed AMC's anti-racing strategy and decided to enter motorsports as a method to gain exposure, publicity, and a performance image.

American Motors' Performance Activities Director Carl Chamakian was charged to get AMC automobiles in racing, which would help to attract a younger customer base.[7] In a “quest for quarter-mile glory,” AMC reached a $1 million agreement in 1967 with Grant Industries in Los Angeles, California (a manufacturer of piston rings, ignition systems, and steering wheels), to build the Grant Rambler Rebel, a "Funny Car" racer to compete in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) X/S (Experimental Stock) and Super Experimental Stock classes.[7] When asked why the company decided to work with AMC, Grant’s President, Grant McCoon responded, “Rambler is a good automobile, and it’s time somebody proved what it can do.”[7] The relationship provided both companies with national exposure and publicity. The car had a altered wheelbase 122-inch (3,099 mm) RCS (chrome moly steel) tube chassis with a 343 cu in (5.6 L) AMC V8 that was bored and stroked to 438 cu in (7 L) tuned by Amos Saterlee.[8] With its GMC 6-71 blower and Enderle fuel injection, the motor produced 1,200 bhp (895 kW) winding up to 9000 rpm on a mixture of alcohol and nitromethane.[7] Starting in June 1967, the car was driven by "Banzai" Bill Hayes and painted red featuring a blue racing stripe with white stars. Soon, Hayden Proffitt took over the Grant funny car program and ran the Rebel on the quarter-mile (402 m) from a standing start in 8.11 seconds at 180.85 miles (291.0 km).[9]

For the 1968 season, a new car was built and renamed the Grant Rebel SST and painted in the new hash red, white, and blue AMC corporate racing colors.[7] With Hayden piloting, the car consistently ran the dragstripin the mid-eight second range at speeds around 180 miles per hour.[7] By the end of 1968, AMC dropped out of funny car racing and Proffitt retired from racing for a few years.[8]

In 1968, Ron Rosenberry drove the King Rebel of Ted McOsker using a blown fuel Chrysler Hemi engine and had a known best of 9.58 seconds at 148.02 miles (238.2 km) in the quarter mile dragstrip.[8]

The Machine

Main article: AMC Machine
Rebel Machine, the first 1,000 units finished in white with red, white, and blue reflective stripes
The Machine was available in a sedate standard paint scheme

The most recognizable muscle car version of the Rebel was named The Machine which in its most patriotic or flamboyant form was painted white with bold red, white, and blue reflective stripes following success of the 1969 SC/Rambler.[10]

First proposed in June 1968, the car was to have been a 1969 Rebel coupe finished in black with authoritative black wheels and fat tires, without any stripes, scoops, or spoilers, but with an aggressive, street-fighting stance.[11] However, an even earlier attempt at a Rebel-based muscle car was produced by the AMC's engineering team: a 1967 two-door built as a development "project" car for carburetion-testing purposes, as well as with "Group 19" high-performance options and the car was re-equipped with a modified 390 cu in (6.4 L) engine with an estimated 500 horsepower (373 kW) "capable of running in the 11-second bracket."[12] The car was considered a legal drag racing car, according to NHRA and AHRA rules and regulations in effect during those years and was painted in AMC's trademark red, white and blue color scheme, although the color breaks were not the same as on other AMC-backed or -developed race cars.[12]

American Motors' high performance halo vehicle made its official debut October 25 1969, in Dallas, Texas; the site of the National Hot Rod Association's World Championship Drag Race Finals. The Machine was developed from a collaboration between Hurst Performance and AMC, but unlike the compact SC/Rambler, there was no official connection between the two parties once production commenced.[13] The standard engine in The Machine was AMC's 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 engine with 340 hp (254 kW) and 430 lb·ft (583 N·m) of torque @ 3600 rpm. It came with special heads, valve train, cam, as well as a redesigned intake and exhaust. This was the most powerful in any AMC vehicle while retaining features required for normal street operations, as well as components to assure outstanding performance characteristics without incurring high-unit cost penalties.[14] The engine is fed by a 690-cfm Motorcraft 4 barrel, it pumped up a 10.0:1 compression, and required high-octane gasoline.[15]

The Machine features a large ram-air intake hood scoop that was painted Electric Blue (code B6) with a large tachometer visible to the driver integrated into a raised fairing at the rear of the scoop. The heavy-duty suspension was augmented by station wagon springs in the rear giving the car a raked look. Standard were a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission with a Hurst floor shifter backed by either 3.54:1 or 3.91:1 rear axle gear ratios, as well as power disc brakes, wide E60X15 Goodyear Polyglas white letter tires mounted on "Machine" mag-styled steel 15-inch wheels, and a black interior with bucket seats and a center armrest upholstered in red, white, and blue vinyl. Numerous other upgrades were standard to make each Machine a potent turn-key drag racer. According to a retrospective Motor Trend magazine article, The Machine is the most strip-ready car of the group they tested.[16] The Machine could spring from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 6.4 seconds, a creditable showing even today.[17]

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) price was US$3,475 (approximately $20,000 in 2007 dollars). After the initial run of 1,000 units with its distinctive and easily recognizable identity, The Machine was available without the stripes in other colors with a blacked out hood. The rarest of all paint schemes for the Machine is Frost White with a flat-black hood (72A-8A), with only three made. The original trim scheme became a $75 option. There were a total of 2,326 Rebel Machines built in 1970.[18]

According to the former editor of Motor Trend magazine, before BMW took "The Ultimate Driving Machine" moniker for itself, American Motors dubbed its high-performance model that could hold its head high in fast company simply "The Machine" and deserves to be considered among the Greatest Cars of All Time.[17]

The Machine was discontinued for 1971, replaced by the Matador, with an optional 330 hp (246 kW), 401 cu in (6.6 L) "Go Package."

Convertibles

1968 Rebel SST convertible

During the 1967 model year, American Motors produced a total of 1,686 Rambler Rebel convertibles in the top-trim SST model. For 1968, the Rambler name was dropped and two convertible versions were offered in the Rebel line. A total of 1,200 were produced (823 in the SST version and 377 units in the base 550 model) during the last year. AMC built convertibles until this body style was added to the small Renault Alliance in 1985.

Collectibility

Among the 1968 to 1970 models, the 1968 Rebel convertible should gain in importance as the last of AMC's ragtops, and although station wagons and sedans later joined the SST hardtop, only the two-door models have collector appeal.[19] The Rebel's "clean but mundane styling" is a minus for collector appeal, but Carl Cameron, an automobile designer at Chrysler and developer of the original Dodge Charger fastback, mentioned that the best competitors during the late 1960s were the AMCs with new engines and the Rambler Rebels were really nice, very hot cars, but the company just did not have much of a presence in the marketplace.[20]

Today, surviving models of the Rebel Machine are bold reminders that tiny AMC once took on the big boys on the streets and strips of America – and won.[21] According to Motor Trend magazine, "The Machine is the collectible muscle car for people who laugh at collectible muscle cars."[16] The radical Rebel Machine with its hood scoop "larger than the corner mailbox" places it among the most controversially styled cars of that era, and the cars have a strong following today with their owners being rewarded with climbing prices.[22]

References

Inline
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Tom Carter's site dedicated to the 1967 AMC Rebel Rambler regional station wagons, retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  2. 2.0 2.1 American Motors Product Information Packet, dated February 20, 1967
  3. “Raider Driveaway” undated newspaper, retrieved on July 22, 2008.
  4. American Motors Rambler Dealer advertisement, New York and New Jersey market, 1969.
  5. Daniel Strohl, Hemmings Auto Blogs, December 31, 2007, retrieved on July 22, 2008.
  6. ArcticBoy's AMC Rebel Pictures, undated, retrieved on July 22, 2008.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 Mitchell, Larry G. (2000). AMC Muscle Cars. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. pp. 116–118. ISBN 978-0760307618. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Danny White and Dennis Doubleday. "Drag Racing Stories: 60s Funny Cars: The AMCs" draglist.com, retrieved on July 22, 2008.
  9. White, Danny. "60s Funny Cars: Round 3: More Hot Rod Headliners" 60sfunnycars.com, undated, retrieved on July 22, 2008.
  10. Truesdell, Richard. The Rebellious American Machine, retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  11. "1970 AMC Rebel Machine" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Foster, Patrick; Donnelly, Jim (November 1, 2004), Rarified Ramblers, Hemmings Muscle Machines, http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2004/11/01/hmn_feature13.html .
  13. Truesdell, Richard. The Rebellious American Machine, retrieved on January 25 2008.
  14. Petersen, Robert A. SAE Technical Papers (Document Number: 700349), retrieved on January 25 2008.
  15. Kunz, Bruce. "1970 AMC Rebel" St. Loius Post-Dispatch 12/24/2007, retrieved on 2008-05-27.
  16. 16.0 16.1 Lassa, Todd. "Muscle Cars Comparison: 1970 AMC Rebel Machine, 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler GT, 1970 Plymouth GTX, and 1970 Buick GSX Stage I" Motor Trend, retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Nerad, Jack. "Great Classic Cars: AMC Rebel Machine" Driving Today, undated, retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  18. 1970 AMC Rebel Machine by Conceptcarz, retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  19. "1968-1970 AMC Rebel SST Hardtop & Convertible" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, undated, retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  20. Carl Cameron Speech at the 2006 TDC Meet, taped and transcribed by Sue George, Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association, not dated, retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  21. Lyons, Dan; Scott, Jason (2001), Muscle Car Milestones, MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company, pp. 88, ISBN 978-0760306154 .
  22. Mattar, George; Comerro, George (April 1, 2005), 2005 AMC Muscle Price Guide, Hemmings Muscle Machines, http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/04/01/hmn_feature33.html .
General
  • Foster, Patrick (2004). AMC Cars: 1954-1987, An Illustrated History. Motorbooks International. ISBN 1-58388-112-3. 
  • Foster, Patrick (1993). The Last Independent. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-87341-240-0. 
  • Marquez, Edrie J. (1988). Amazing AMC Muscle: Complete Development and Racing History of the Cars from American Motors. Motorbooks International. ISBN 0-87938-300-3. 

External links